HAIL TO THE KINGS Hundreds welcome national champion Little League team back home to Kennett

By
Fran Maye, Daily Local News

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Led by an escort of fire engines from Kennett, Avondale and Unionville, the Kennett Kings senior division Little League team returned home last night to the KAU Little League complex as hundreds of fans and well-wishers shouted and cheered.

The Kings returned home national champions and runners-up for world champions. A team from Chitre, Panama, defeated KAU in the championship game, 2-1, despite a late seventh-inning rally that put runners on second and third with only one out.

“We were one run, one hit, one out from being world champions, but national champions is quite good,” said Coach Rob Jones.

Throughout the World Series, KAU scored more runs than any other team but ran up against Panama’s best pitcher, 16-year-old Javier Garcia, who brought a 91 mph fastball and a curveball better than any KAU player has ever seen. Just 10 minutes after the championship game, the New York Mets signed Garcia to a professional baseball contract.

After players and coaches stepped off the bus, they got hugs and cheers as they made their way down to the field, where Kennett Square Matt Fetick saluted the team for its accomplishments.

“We welcome you back as the winners you are,” Fetick said. “You represented your community well and you came back as real winners.”

Coach John Tucker said the boys were returning to a field where they first started playing ball.

“Most of this group has been together since age 6 or 7,” he told the crowd, many cheering and waving banners. “To bring them back here as national champions is amazing.”

Todd Duerr, the team’s manager, said the success of the team was due to hard work, and he gave much credit to coaches Chris Jarmuz, Mike Pechin and Rob Jones.

“This has been a dream come true,” he said. “Some people have asked if this team was really from Kennett Square.They are all home grown, every one of them.I say to all of the young players here tonight, you could be here one day. We never thought we could, but it just takes hard work.”

Pechin got choked up when he told the crowd about how catcher Eric Duerr got injured in a violent collision at the plate during World Series play. Duerr was hospitalized and has been in a neck brace ever since. He suffered a concussion and tested negative for spinal problems.

“The way these guys handled adversity has inspired me to be a better person,” Pechin said. “After Eric took that horrendous hit, the biggest cheap shot I’ve ever seen, the players’ biggest concern was their teammate. And he held on to that ball. It was still in his glove behind the plate.”

Fans who attended the rally said the KAU team is the best they have ever seen.

“The young men really showed the community spirit for baseball, and worked on the fundamentals during the entire tournament,” said Anthony Zirolli, father of Joe Zirolli, the team’s clean-up hitter. “We are all very proud of them.”

Vic Dupuis, Unionville school director, said the team made the community proud.

“It’s a great group of kids, great coaches, and great representation of a great community,” Dupuis said.

Pechin reminded the players of the time and dedication parents put in to help the kids to advance so far, and to remember the example their parents have set.

“I told them I expected them to pay everyone back when they have kids of their own,” Pechin said. “Maybe some of these boys have learned to care about other people and not just about themselves.”

KAU was the first Pennsylvania team to reach the championship game of the senior division Little League since 1961.